This Master of Arts in Sociology is offered by the University of Alberta's Department of Sociology and prepares students for advanced research and professional work in the field. The department offers both a course-based and a thesis-based route within the MA, alongside related specialized tracks in criminal justice and in population and life course dynamics. The course-based option requires 24 units, including core courses in social theory, research design, methods, and statistics, while the thesis-based option requires a minimum of 18 units of coursework plus original thesis research; all students complete mandatory ethics training. Instruction is delivered in person, full-time, on the Edmonton campus, with course-based study generally taking under two years and thesis-based study taking longer. Admission requires a four-year undergraduate degree with a major in sociology, a minimum grade point average over the final two years of undergraduate study, and a defined research proposal. The program suits students building toward doctoral study through the thesis route, and, through the criminal justice specialization, professionals with justice-system experience seeking advanced disciplinary training.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.50 / 4.0
Admission Requirements: The Master of Arts in Sociology requires a four-year undergraduate degree with a major in sociology (an honours degree is preferred) or a related discipline, and a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 over the last two years of undergraduate study. Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency with a TOEFL iBT score of 100 (or, for tests written on or after January 21, 2026, a score of 5 under the test's revised scale) or an equivalent approved test. The application must include a clearly defined statement of research interests, and course-based applicants must also submit a research proposal demonstrating scholarly ability. Admitted students complete mandatory ethics training as part of the program.
Application Details
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply directly to the University of Alberta, not through a provincial service: for Fall 2027 entry the application window opens 1 October 2026 and the deadline for most programmes is 1 March 2027, though several limited-enrolment programmes close earlier (Juris Doctor, 1 December 2026; Dental Hygiene, 1 November 2026) or later (Bachelor of Design and BFA programmes, 1 May 2027); Spring and Summer 2027 admission also opens 1 October 2026, while Winter intake is limited to a few programmes. International applicants use the identical published dates and online application; the university states no separate international closing date. The 1 March deadline is firm and late applications are not accepted, but admission decisions are then issued on a rolling basis, and offers made before 1 April must be accepted by 1 May 2027. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
